Ordinary Aussies victims of MH17 tragedy
As the Australian death toll climbed from the Malaysia Airlines disaster, a common theme emerged among the victims.
Decent, everyday Australians who contributed to society.
Take Sydney nun Sister Philomene Tiernan or former primary school deputy principal Michael Clancy. Or Nick Norris, who was returning from a holiday with three of his grandchildren, aged eight to 12, all of whom died.
There was Victorian novelist Liam Davison and his wife, college teacher Francesca “Frankie” Davison; well-loved community figure Albert Rizk and Canberra mother-of-two Liliane Derden, who worked for the National Health and Medical Research Council.
At least 28 Australians perished in the tragedy, and it’s feared that number could rise.
Keen sailor Mr Norris, from Western Australia, leaves behind his wife, Lindy, a Murdoch University professor, and four children. These include daughter Kirstin, a marine engineer with the Royal Australian Navy, and son Brack, who is the marketing manager with his father’s company.
Brack Norris said he heard the news from one of his sisters.
“She called me at 5.30am … and said that the plane that dad was on had been shot down,” he told ABC radio.
“Quite shocking and disbelieving that we’re actually in this situation.”
A fellow member of the South of Perth Yacht Club told Fairfax radio that Mr Norris was friendly and a very enthusiastic sailor. “He was just a lovely bloke. “He’ll be missed.”
Sister Philomene, 77, was another who will be greatly missed, having mentored thousands of children in her 30-plus years as a teacher and director of boarding at Sydney Catholic school Kincoppal-Rose Bay.
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“The impact of this is just unbelievable in the whole community,” a year 12 boarding student told AAP. “It comes as a shock to us all.”
The nun had been enjoying a sabbatical in France.
“I feel like since we are all away from our parents she seemed like a grandma that everyone just loved,” a year 10 boarder said.
The Davidsons were among the nine Victorians believed to have died in the crash. They had two children.
Ms Derden’s colleague expressed deep sadness at the loss of a valued colleague and friend.
A remote community teacher is among one of three suspected Northern Territory victims, along with a husband and wife from Palmerston.
Mosman Park-based doctor Jerzy Dyczynski and his wife, Angela, arrived in Perth on an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur late on Friday afternoon, saying they did not know the whereabouts of their daughter Fatima Dyczynski.
Amsterdam-based Ms Dyczynski is the chief executive and founder of Xoterra Space, a high-tech start-up company, and is trained in aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has instructed all Australian government establishments, here and overseas, to fly Australia’s flag at half-mast as a mark of respect to the victims.
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At least 28 Australians have been killed in the MH17 disaster
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VICTORIA – Nine
RIZK, Albert RIZK, Maree Husband and wife from Sunbury north of Melbourne. Albert and Maree Rizk are understood to have been returning to Australia on the flight, after a month-long holiday in Europe. Mr Rizk was a director of the local Raine and Horne real estate branch.
TEOH, Elaine
MAHLER, Emiel Melbourne’s Elaine Teoh and Emiel Mahler, both 27, were travelling to a wedding in Malaysia when the flight they were on travelled into Ukrainian airspace. Ms Teoh, originally from Penang in Malaysia, and Mr Mahler, a Dutch national, lived in Melbourne where they worked in the finance sector.
DAVISON, Frankie DAVISON, Liam The Toorak College (Mt Eliza) teacher and her husband were onboard the flight. They left behind two children, Milly and Sam.
QUEENSLAND – Nine
GUARD, Roger GUARD, Jill Toowoomba couple, doctors Roger and Jill Guard, were reportedly returning to Australia after holidaying following a medical conference. Roger Guard was director of pathology at Toowoomba Hospital, while Jill Guard worked as a GP. Both were well-regarded in the Toowoomba and Queensland Health communities.
SIDELIK, Heidi The Gold Coast woman, aged in her late 50s was reportedly travelling home from a friend’s wedding in Europe on flight MH17, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin. She moved to Burleigh from Melbourne four years ago. It’s been reported she was originally from Adelaide.
Also there are reports of a Sunshine Coast couple and four people from the Brisbane suburb of Indooroopilly.
WA – Seven
NORRIS, Nick Nick Norris was on board with three of his grandchildren, the managing director of management consulting firm Collaborative Systemic Change Pty Ltd. Survived by daughter Kirstin, who is in the Navy and living in Sydney, and son Brack.
NSW – One confirmed; two feared.
TIERNAN,Philomene Sister Philomene Tiernan, a nun who taught at Kincoppal at Rose Bay, was among those killed. Among those paying tribute were Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull. “Many women incl my wife Lucy & daughter Daisy were inspired by the love of Sr Phil Tiernan RSCJ” he tweeted.
CLANCY, Michael
CLANCY, Carol Retired Wollongong couple Michael and Carol Clancy, believed to be in their 60s, are understood to have been on the flight following a three-week European holiday. The school where Mr Clancy taught, Albion Park, sent a letter home to parents.
ACT
DERDEN, Liliane Mother of two Liliane Derden, 50, from Hall in Canberra’s north. Ms Derden worked for the National Health and Medical Research Council, whose staff expressed deep sadness at the loss of a valued colleague and friend.
NT
Fears three NT residents have been killed. NT chief minister Adam Giles says it’s believed a teacher from a remote community and a couple from Palmerston were on the flight.
(Note, numbers are based on government advice and media reports. Some of the victims may not be Australian passport holders)
